Paper (*cross-listing*): physics/0508183
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:41:44 GMT (341kb)

Title: The Road Less Traveled: Non-traditional Ways of Communicating Astronomy
with the Public

Authors: Michael J. West (University of Hawaii)

Comments: Invited talk to appear in Communicating Astronomy with the Public
2005, eds. E.I. Robson and L.L. Christensen, 2005, ESA/Hubble Publishing, in
press; 10 pages, 5 figures, pdf only
Subj-class: Popular Physics
\\
In an age of media saturation, how can astronomers succeed in grabbing the
public's attention to increase awareness and understanding of astronomy? Here I
discuss some creative alternatives to press releases, public lectures,
television programs, books, magazine articles, and other traditional ways of
bringing astronomy to a wide audience. By thinking outside the box and
employing novel tools - from truly terrible sci-fi movies, to modern
Stonehenges, to music from the stars - astronomers are finding effective new
ways of communicating the wonders of the universe to people of all ages.

\\ ( http://arXiv.org/abs/physics/0508183 , 341kb)